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AUTHOR: 


WAN  NOSTRAND,  J.J 


TITLE: 


AN  EXPLANATION  OF 
A  MECHANICAL... 


PLACE: 


CHICAGO 


DA  TE : 


1901 


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Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


Z/i  Van  Nostrand,  J  -v    J,>\»  •  i 

22 

An  explanation  of  a  mechanical  philosophy 

Chicago  1901        D  in  0     10  p     pi 

No  4  of  a  vol  of  pamphlets 


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HLMEDBY:    RESEARCH  PUBLICATIONS.  INC  WOODBRIDGE.  CT 


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AN  EXPLANATION 


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A   MECHANICAL   PHILOSOPHY 


BY 


^       J»  J-  y^N  NOSTRAND 


Chicago,  III. 


1 901 


Copyright  190  J, 


PrefaItory. 

The  office  of  A  Mechanical  Philosophy  is 
the  demonstration  of  the  existence  of  a  third 
most  general  order  of  phenomena  in  nature, 
co-equal  with  the  first  and  second.  Its  time- 
liness is  evident  as  it  demonstrates,  mathe- 
matically, the  ground  of  necessity  underlying 
the  desperate  resistance,  by  the  Boers  and  the 
Phillipinos,  to  the  loss  of  their  independence. 


A   MECHANICAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

Philosophy  is  cx-plan-ation,  literally,  out- 
spread-working. 

The  mechanical  is  the  machine-like,  and 
implies  something  doing  work  undtv  fixed  con- 
ditions. Hence  necessiiy  is  the  mark  of  the 
mechanical. 

Exact  repetition  of  the  work  done,  notwith- 
standing great  complexity  in  the  subdivision 
of  the  working  parts,  certifies  to  the  dominion 
ofthett«i/in  the  construction  of  the  machinery. 
The  unit  is  "any  standard  quantity  by  the 
repetition  and  subdivision  of  which  any  other 
quantity  of  the  same  kind  is  measured." C<r»/. 

Diet. 

''Science  is  the  whole  body  of  truth,  considered 
as  a  system  derived  from  some  initialy  or  cen- 
tral  truthy  which   thus    gives    unity  to    the 

whole." 

"^  science  is  a  partial  body  of  truth,  similarly 
considered,  and  embracing  some  one  conven- 
iently limited  department  of  the  knowledge." 
C  E,  Warren,  Bescrip.  Geom,,  p.  i . 
With  the  above  definition  of  science  taken  as 
both  problem  and  theorem,  the  formula  here- 


with proposes  to  solve  and  prove  the  truth 
of  the  declaration  and  thereby  establish  A 
Mechanical  Philosophy. 


MIND    IN    NATURE. 


No  two  men  think  and  reason  alike,  nor  does 
any  independent  man  maintain  the  same  men- 
tal attitude  toward  any  problem  for  an  appre- 
ciable length  of  time  ;  therefore  fixity  is  not 
predicable  of  mind  in  man. 
The  manifestation  of  definite  proportion  and 
symmetry  throughout  nature  certifies  to  the 
existence    of  a  mind  to  which   choice   is  as 
strange  as  fixity  is  to  mind  in  man. 
Knowledge    is    by    comparison,  a  kind    of 
coupling.     Hence  to  know  the  two  forms  of 
mind  is  to  get  their  difference. 
Mind  in  nature  is, 

diagrammatical  (demonstrative), 

mathematical  (authoritative), 

mechanical  (norm-al), 
and,  therefore,  impersonal  (fixed). 
Mind  in  man  is,     -^ 

dialectical  (atfgpientative), 

aesthetical  (speculative), 

emotional  (spiritual), 
and,  therefore,  personal  (variable). 


By  reduction  it  is  evident  that  necessity  dom- 
nates  the  one,  and,  therefore,  subjection  is 
proper  to  it,  similarly,  that  choice  rules  the 
other,  and,  therefore,  independence  is  proper 
to  it. 

The  truth  is  changeless,  an  end  ;  moreover, 
unlike  absolute  zero,  it  is  a  practical  end,  and 
owing  to  its  fixity,  an  end  at  which  mind  in 
nature  aims.^^^^^^^,  *x 

Mind  in  ngtuit  is  evidently  complimental, 
but  subsidiary.  Spirituality  is  obviously  the 
subsidy. 

THE    SEMATICAL. 


The  method  of  the  formula  is  historical,  but 
under  mathamatical  authority. 
It  requires  the  postulation  of  a  third  most 
general  order  of  phenomena  in  nature,  the 
sematical  (sign-like)  or  ratio-nal.  The  first 
and  second,  respectively,  the  physical  (body- 
like) or  material,  and  the  psychical  (life-like) 
or  vital  completing  the  whole. 
No  whole  comprising  three  different  parts 
can  be  explained,  either  distinctly  or  ade- 
quately, in  terms  of  but  two.  Con-fusion  is 
certain  to  follow  the  attempt. 


The  sematical  unit  is  the  simple  geometrical 
co-ordinate : 


H- 


Rcgressively  this  unit  decomposes  into  a  neg- 
ative element  (the  polarized  horizontal  line), 
and  a  positive  (the  polarized  vertical),  corres- 
ponding to  the  physical  an-ion  and  cat-ion, 
and  the  psychical  spermule  and  ovule. 
Furthermore,  by  abstraction  the  polarized 
point  may  be  obtained.  The  point  is  defined 
as  "that  which  has  place,  or  position  in  space 
without  occupying  any  part  of  it."  Manifestly 
that  which  is  everywhere  and  every  when,  can- 
not be  divested  of  anything,  even  its  polarity. 
Progressively  this  unit  evolves  a  unity  with 
the  negative  pole  of  the  vertical  line  for  its 
base,  tne  three  free  poles  furnish  bases  for 
the  erection  of  three  new  units  of  exactly  one- 
half  the  size  of  the  initial  unit.  Then  by  two 
more  similar  steps  a  definitely  proportioned 
sy metrical  unity  is  given  which  is  really  an 
"organic  totality,"  since  it  carries  ideas  gest- 
ant. 


THE  IDEATION    OF  THE    UNIT. 

Its  ability  to  carry  ideas  in  the  form  of  a 
proposition  is  the  peculiar  property  of  the 
sematical  unit. 

"Truth,  in  the  strict,  logical  sense,  applies  to 
propositions  and  to  nothing  else  ;  and  con- 
sists in  the  conformity  of  the  declaration  made 
to  the  actual  state  of  the  case."  Fleming. 
The  ideation  involves  the  name  of  the  thing 
(the  idea),  the  thing  of  the  name  (the  reality), 
the  antecedent  of  the  thing  (its  static  aspect), 
and  the  consequent  of  the  thing  (its  dynamic 
aspect). 

THE    IDEATION    OF    THE    UNITY. 

The  ideation  of  the  unity  is  that  extension  of 
the  ideation  of  the  unit  which  means  philos- 
ophy considered  as  completely  unified  knowl- 
edge. 

The  ideas  must  conform  to  the  synthetic 
properties  of  the  unit  in  order  that  the  uni- 
fied thought-units  may  be  seen  to  grow  into 
an  organic  totality. 

The  terms  required  for  the  work  are  primary 
ideas,  beginning  with  the  most  general  and 
finishing  with  the  ultimate.  Generality= 
allness.  Ultimateness="a  final  or  definitive 
condition." 


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In  their  generality  the  ideas  are  quantitative, 
as  ultimate  they  are  qualitative. 
The  ideation  of  the  initial  unit  consists  in  the 
use  of  the  terms  Mind  in  nature  and  its  three 
correlates,  Physical^  Psychicaly  and  SematicaL 
Mind=the  idea ;  Sematical  or  rational=the 
reality ;  Physical  or  material=the  static  as- 
pect ;  Psychical  or  vital=the  dynamic  aspect. 
Mind    thus    quotients   into    its    correlates. 
Ratio  =  quotient,  ratio-nal  =  quotient-like, 
and  ratio-cination=qaotient-ing. 
These  ideas  now  progress  in  strict  corres- 
pondence with  that  of  the  units  in  their  for- 
mation of  the  unity  ;  decreasing  in  generality 
and    increasing    in    ultimateness    (definitive 
power).     Each  step  taken  is  the  expression 
of  totality,  e.  g.  atom,  molecule  and  ether  form 
the  all  of  physical,  phenomena.    Plasm,  cell, 
and  fibre  form  the  /o/^/ of  psychical,  and  so  do 
meaning,  thought,  and  truth  form  the  all  of 
sematical.   But  it  is  not  until  the  fourth  step 
is  reached  that  pure  ultimateness  is  obtained. 

HISTORIZATION. 

The  formula  is  now  a  complete  history  of 
mind  in  nature's  operation  in  the  establish- 
ment of  norm-alization  (science).  The  source 


of  its  explanatory  power,  or  systemarization  of 
primary  ideas,  is  the  essential  property  ot 
(proper  to)  the  geometrical  co-ordinate. 
The  fact  that  primary  ideas  necessarily  con- 
form to  these  units  gives  a  common  geomet- 
rical progression  to  the  whole. 
The  further  fact  that  this  progress  of  the  pri- 
mary ideas  is  from  the  most  general  to  ulti- 
matcs,  in  strict  compliance  with  the  law  of 
continuity,  certifies  to  the  validity  of  the  pos- 
tulated, sign-like,  third  most  general  order  of 
phenomena  in  nature,  in  a  form  so  authorita- 
tive as  to  make  human  criticism  inoperative. 
The  history  is  entirely  that  of  Mind  in  nature 
operating  toward  an  end  aimed  at.  The 
terms  of  the  physical  are  explanatory  of  the 
ratio-nalized  motion,  the  geometrical  struc- 
ture. Those  of  the  psychical  are  explanatory 
of  the  effect  of  Mind  in  nature's  mathematical 
method  upon  its  medium, — Mind  in  man. 
Those  of  the  sematical  explain  explanation, 
i.  e.,  they  set  forth  the  conditions  of  knowl- 
edge of  knowledge  qua  knowledge.  The 
Principle  of  auto-geneity  as  the  correlate  of 
omo-geneity  and    hetero-geneity  is   hereby 

demonstrated.* 

History=Knowledge    through  having  been 


seen.     The  happenings  in  the  organic  struc- 
turalization  of  the  truth  are,  for  us,  a  contin- 
uous   performance.    An    exercise    in    histol- 
ogy, forming  the  warp  and  the  woof  of  a  web- 
like process  of  marvelous  beauty. 
Note  a  few  of  the  co-ordinations  of  this  pro- 
cess of  one-shape-working  (uniformation): 
The  three  kinds  of  motion,  translation,  rota- 
tion, and   spiralization  ;  all  real-ized  in  the 
latter. 
The  same,  coupled  and  divided  into  pushes 

and  pulls. 

Pushes — Heat       \  Electricity    )  Light 
Pulls — Chemism  (  Magnetism  j  Gravitation 
The  so-called  three  laws   of  motion  reduced 
to  single  terms,  negation,  position,  and  equa- 
tion ;    suggesting  — ,  -|-,    and  =  as    merely 
another  step  in  reduction.     The    difference 
in  utility  between  the  ordinary  definitions  of 
these  principles,  and  their  reductions  to  the 
form   of  single  characters,  demonstrates  the 
histo-ric  power  of  the  sematical  thought-pro- 
cess in  an  unmistakable  way. 
A  step  forward  in  complexity  is  definition  by 
the  ultimates.     The  process   now    becomes 
more  evidently  mathematical. 
The  whole  may  be  considered  as  the  domain 

8 


of  exact  knowledge,  composed  of  three  realms j 
each  realm  comprised  ot  three  provinces,  each 
province  embracing  t\iTt^  fields,  and  each  field 
having  three  places. 

The  most  general  co-ordinations  govern  the 
more  particular  ;  e.  g.,  in  the  psychical  realm 
there  are  three  provmces,  a  plasmic,  a  cellu- 
lar, and  a  fibrous;  each  province  groups 
three  fields,  a  plasmic,  a  cellular,  and  a 
fibrous,  their  relative  positions  being  corres- 
pondent with  that  of  the  plasm,  the  cell,  and 
the  fibre  in  their  original  triangulation.  Then 
each  field  co-ordinates  three  places,  a  plasmic, 
a  cellular,  and  a  fibrous,  under  the  conditions 
of  the  original  correspondence.  Thus  we 
have  the  place  of  the  final  definitive  ultimate 
in  the  field,  the  place  of  the  field  in  the 
province,  and  the  place  of  the  province  m  the 
realm  =  the  place,  of  the  place,  of  the  place. 
Following  the  suggestion  thus  set  forth,  viz: 
that  each  term  has  a  certain  spatial  relation, 
and  using  the  psychical  realm  we  have  the 
following  definitions  by  the  ultimates  : 

Election  =  the  fibre,  of  the  fibre,  of  the  fibre. 

Intuition  =  the   plasm,  of  the   fibre,  of  the 

fibre.  , 

AflFection  =  the    fibre,  of  the   fibre,  ot  the 

plasm. 


Comprehension  =  the  cell,  of  the  fibre,  of  the 

fibre. 

EflFection  =  the  fibre,  of  the  fibre,  of  the  cell. 

Sensation  =  the  plasm,  of  the   fibre,  of  the 

plasm. 

Discrimination  =  the  fibre,  of  the  plasm,  of 

the  fibre. 

Determination  =  the  fibre,  of  the  cell,  of  the 

fibre. 

Expression  =  the  cell,of  the  fibre,  of  the  cell. 

Confliction  =  the  plasm,  of  the  plasm,  of  the 

fibre. 

Discomposition  =  the  fibre,  of  the  plasm,  of 

the  plasm. 

Restriction  =  the  cell,  of  the  cell,  of  the  fibre. 
Inhibition  =  the  fibre,  of  the  cell,  of  the  cell. 

Secretion  =  the  fibre,  of  the  cell,  of  the  plasm. 
Association  =  the  plasm,  of  the  cell,  of  the 
fibre. 

Irradiation  =  the  cell,  of  the   plasm,  of  the 

fibre. 

Alienation  =  the  fibre,  of  the  plasm,  of  the 

cell. 


lO 


Impression  =  the  cell,  of  the   fibre,  of  the 

plasm. 

Localization  =  the  plasm,  of  the  fibre,  of  the 

cell. 

Nutrition  =  the   plasm,  of  the  cell,  of  the 

plasm. 

Dissipation  =  the  cell,  of  the  plasm,  of  the 

cell. 

Appetition  =  the    cell,  of  the  cell,  of   the 

plasm. 

Segmentation  =  the  plasm,  of  the  cell,  of  the 

cell. 

Aversion  =  the    cell,  of  the    plasm,  of  the 

plasm. 

Dissociation  =  the  plasm,  of  the  plasm,  of 

the  cell. 

Excitation  =  the  plasm,  of  the  plasm,  of  the 
plasm. 

Reproduction  =  the  cell,  of  the  cell,  of  the 
cell. 

These  meanings  are  comparatively  complex 
reactions  of  the  ultimates.  Their  verification 
belongs  to  histology. 


II 


The  coupling  and  the  rhythm  incident 
thereto,  probably  belong  to  an  advanced 
geometrical  process.  Perhaps  the  logarith- 
mic spiral.  See  polarity  (coupling),  as  an 
ultimate,  within  the  province  of  spiralization 
(rhythm). 

The   same   silent  voicing   of  knowledge  is 
proper  to  the  other  realms,  by  repetitive  sub- 
stitution ;  the  mark  of  the  unit. 
The  norm  (the  sematical  unit)  is  common  to 
each  realm,  province,  and  field  of  the  domain 
of  exact  knowledge  —  rationalized  knowledge 
of  motion    or    physical    phenomena,  ratio- 
nalized knowledge  of  knowledge  of  sematical 
phenomena,  and  ratio-nalized  knowledge  of 
the  one,  and  only  form  of  human  necessity, 
that  which  renders  it  impossible  for  man  to 
not  know  a  fully  comprehended  mathematical 
determination.      Mathematics  is  equality. 
"Things  which  being  applied  to  each  other 
co-incide,  are  equal  to  one  another." 
"Things  which  are  equal  to  the  same  thing 
are  equal  to  one  another." 
Hence,  norm-alization  is  the  end  and  the  aim 
of  A  Mechanical  Philosophy. 


